<em>Whoosh</em>


    The cold gusts turned everything to ice, trees, boulders, even the earth itself.


    Sigmund, Yaya, the Garm dogs, and other fighters were tied up with sealing chains and their limbs frozen with Aurora''s ice.


    Charlotte, Frey, and Raishin were also suspended in the air by Aegis. They can''t break the shell no matter what.


    With the controllers bound, the fighters sealed.


    This fight is as good as over. After all, Natsuki''s chains prevented mana from going into the automata while the Aegis cut off connections between the puppeteers and the dolls.


    They mmed their fists against the Aegis to no avail. Wu Yan slowly recalled his mana while keeping the chains and Aegis in force.


    "You guys wasted my time."


    Wu Yan said as he turned around."Stay here."


    "Yan! Don''t go!"


    Charlotte pleaded while she cried a storm.


    "Don''t go!"


    "Why are you trying so hard to stop me?"


    Wu Yan asked. His voice echoed in their ears.


    "After all, we just met slightly over a month ago, is it worth risking your life?"


    "I should ask you the same!"


    Charlotte bit her lips.


    "Why are you throwing yourself into the abyss? Just for me?!"


    "When Felix tried to kill me, you saved me by unmasking him and defeating him. Now, after my sister was used as a hostage, you tried to cover for both of us."


    Charlotte weeped.


    "Is it worth it?"


    "I don''t know what is worth what. But, I do know I won''t feelfortable if I let this slide."


    Wu Yan looked in her direction.


    "You would have done the same, after all, you''re the original target."


    "Would you listen if I tried to stop you?"


    Wu Yan asked her back.


    "No, you''re going to be stubborn and jump into the traps they set for you. Just let me do my job and tear this case wide open, this is the better alternative, wouldn''t you say so?"


    "No!"


    She mmed her fists against the shield again.


    "You''re right, I would be a stubborndy who goes against your advice. But, you''re still going to stop me, right?!"


    "I am going to stop you!"


    Charlotte''s eyes were red with tears, she cried and, at the same time,ughed too.


    "It''s my fault for loving you."


    Wu Yan flinched.


    Natsuki, Ikaros, Astrea, Avrora, Kanon, and the automatadies were stunned.


    "You..."


    Wu Yan bitterlyughed.


    "You''re confessing here?"


    "Yeah, what? You got a problem with that?"


    Charlotte sobbed.


    "Do you think I am easy because I changed from liking Felix to loving you in a short span of time?"


    "Hate?"


    Wu Yan smiled.


    "More like, you caught me by surprise."


    "Please, listen to me this one time..."


    Charlotte pleaded again.


    "You, can''t kill the principal."


    "You can''t."


    Frey also begged him.


    "There are other ways to do this."


    "Fight back, what''s the point of being so powerful?"


    Raishin said.


    "Even the Kingsford can''t do anything to you."


    Wu Yan, Natsuki, Ikaros, Astrea, Avrora, and Kanon turned silent.


    "Yan!"


    Charlotte, Frey, and Raishin called out to him again.


    "Wu Yan."


    Sigmund said.


    "Wu Yan-san!"


    Yaya yelled too.


    He could hear everyone''s voice but this situation had gone too deep.


    They are just rolling with the flow.


    Then, a voice void of emotions called out to him.


    "Return to whence you came, Scarlet Eyes..."


    The space distorted to give way to a swirling ck hole. Then, a few figures emerged from the portal. It was a guy apanied by 4dies.


    They wore ck funeral gowns and had simr height. Their masks had different characters written on it. The bloody red weapons they carried gave their identities away.


    The male wore student uniform. His silver mask that only covered his eyes also gave him away.


    Raishin growled the moment he saw the man.


    "Magnus!"


    Yes, the strongest student in the academy.


    Magnus the Marshal.


    Thedies are his automata, 4 of 6 that secured him the top spot of the 13 Rounds.


    "Magnus."


    Wu Yan grinned.


    "If you''re here then you must have be the principal''s guardian, right?"


    "The guardian?"


    Charlotte, Frey, and Raishin yelped.


    "Temporarily, yes."


    Magnus affirmed.


    "Give up on killing the principal then my task would be done. Don''t make me continue doing this futile task."


    "Straight to the point, and, surprisingly expressive, what a shocker."


    Wu Yan curled his lips.


    "Why don''t you turn the job down if you thought it was futile?"


    "Like I said, it''s a job."


    Magnus replied.


    "It''s not my intention, the circumstances forced me. Back down, Scarlet Eyes."


    "Oh?"


    Wu Yan grinned.


    "If I insist on meeting the principal?"


    Magnus lifted his head.


    "Then, I shall beat you into submission."